Laptops and PCs with coconut cases

[TheHuckster]

No, the cases aren't made out of coconuts, it's just that they're as difficult to open.

A somewhat old laptop I had died on me, so I ordered a new one. I wanted to replace the hard drive with an SSD and figure it would be like all the other laptops I had: A convenient little access panel on the base with one or two screws. No such luck. Instead, the entire case needs to be taken apart, which isn't as easy as taking all the screws off... oooh, no. I need to first find each of the 700 screws, some of which are hidden, then figure out a way to release the tabs underneath that are still holding the case down all the while leaving me guessing whether there's yet another screw holding it or something else, and then I'm in... only to find that there's a ton of fragile shit covering the hard drive, which if at all fucked up will render the laptop inoperable.

A while back I had a Mac Mini which literally required putty knives to open and upgrade the RAM. Since it was a work-owned Mac, I decided to take it to a specialist to get it upgraded for fear I'd break the damn thing. How stupid is that?

The 100-page manual has all kinds of information, but no information on how to take the case apart. Every single manual I have had prior had well-written instructions to do routine operations such as upgrading memory, hard drives, and batteries, but this one doesn't.

And, no, I didn't opt for an overpriced warranty, so I don't have a warranty to breach.

I get it, they believe that no user should have to open the case to get into the inner workings of the laptop, even if that means replacing a bad drive, upgrade memory, or replacing the battery, because I guess they figure the average user is apt to break the thing in the process, but guess what? I'm someone who knows what I'm doing, and they've fucking made me worried that I'm going to break the damn thing in the process. And the truly clueless PEBCAK user who is determined to do their own upgrade when they shouldn't, even with a more convenient access panel, is now more apt to break the thing. They've accomplished NOTHING.

Ugh.

[lordlundar]

Yup, HP is notorious for that and so is apple. The MacBook Air for example requires 36 proprietary screws to be removed just to get to the components. As well a relative of mine recently had to replace her computer. I didn't look very hard but I didn't recall even seeing screws to access the system. (not that it matters much, there's nothing in there that can be upgraded) And this is a desktop.

[ExRetailDrone]

They've accomplished NOTHING.

Sure they have. They've made sure that to do anything you have to pay more money to make sure that you don't break anything in the process

[HYHYBT]

A putty knife is an unusual tool to use to open a computer, but if you're using one it's not particularly difficult to get into a Mac Mini. At least, not the older shape; I haven't tried the current design.

[crashhelmet]

Putty knives work great because they're typically not solid/firm enough to damage the plastics like a flat head screwdriver would. But I agree. It's one of the things I hate the most about fixing laptops.

You have to find and pull out all of the dam screws and pray to your deity of choice that you get them all back in or you have to take it all apart again. Then there's making sure cables, especially ribbon cables, are connected and stowed properly.

Ugh

[AmbrosiaWriter]

I love my desktop case. Two easily unscrewed screws (as in I can unscrew them with my hand!) and the entire side just pops right off. One of the reasons I bought it, actually, since I do plan on doing upgrades and such.

So do these laptops equate to the dreaded clam-shell casing that many toys and other gadgets come in now?

[crashhelmet]

laptop cases are like snap-together models. They have multiple clasps and latches to hold it together. The screws basically secure it all, or secure the components to the casing.

So after you remove the 17 outer screws, you have to then find and pop all of the latches and clasps to separate the top from the bottom. Then you get to find all of the cables to disconnect to completely separate them.

Sometimes, you get to remove a few screws and a small plastic piece just to remove the keyboard, before getting to other screws to detach the casing. It is a real pain in the ass.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

So, yeah pretty much it is computer equivalent to clam-shell casing, only you actually have to be careful about what you're doing rather than just tearing through it with a pair of giant scissors.

[TheHuckster]

...so I got inside the laptop, only to find they managed to use a proprietary form factor for the 2.5" hard drive that the SSD will not fit (ironically because the SSD manufacturer added padding that cannot be removed in order to make it as thick as the standard drives... if it wasn't for the padding, it would have fit!)

I give up.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

Wow. Geek targeted sitcom material right there. I actually cringed when I read that Huckster. Go have yourself a chocolate milk and a loooot of cookies.

[insertNameHere]

Read first few posts, has anyone brought up that ONE fucking screw under the keyboard that requires you to remove the bezel over the power button to get to the keyboard to remove a single screw that is hold both halves together since you already removed 20 screws from the actual bottom.

[protege]

Worst case I ever had to deal with...was an old Dell. That thing wasn't a tower, and was very cramped inside. There was no room to add much. In fact, to get at the hard drive, I had to take out the CD drive, the metal enclosure around the floppy (yeah, it was 1993), floppy drive itself, and then the enclosure over the hard drive. All of that just to access the screws holding that drive in!

That was the last 'desktop' case I ever owned. Too much hassle to take apart and put back together. Towers are much easier to take apart and modify. More room for additional drives, and other hardware. In fact, the case I just bought is pretty nice--both side panels come off. Meaning that the drives aren't held in by removable 'cages.' I can bolt them directly into the rails.

[HYHYBT]

All things considered, though, I'd still much rather have the flexibility a laptop provides in where I can use it and in what positions than easier expansion.

And laptops that make things like replacing the hard drive easy also tend to be bulkier than those where it's difficult, at least from my admittedly limited experience. Whether that matters or not, of course, depends on how much you move it around...